Toulon Rugby Team Page

First topic message reminder :

Manager - Gloucester Bear
Club Captain - Byron Kelleher
Vice Captain - Kelly Brown
Squad Numbers - 28
Budget - 21 million

Hookers
John Smit
Benoit August

Props
Fabien Barcella
Neemia Tialata
Mike Ross(Loan)

Locks
Danie Rossouw
Louis Deacon
Anthony Boric

Flankers
Dan Lydiate
Joe Van Niekerk
Ben McCalman
Sam Warburton
Ashley Johnson

Scrum Half
Byron Kelleher
Chris Cusiter

Fly Half
Toby Flood
Stephen Donald

Centres
Jonathan Davies
Seilala Mapasua
David Marty
Anthony Fainga'a

Wingers
Leigh Halfpenny
Alesana Tuilagi
Rod Davies
Vincent Clerc

Full Backs
Keith Earls

Starting 15
1.Fabien Barcella
2.John Smit
3.Neemia Tialata
4.Anthony Boric
5.Danie Rossouw
6.Joe Van Niekerk
7.Sam Warburton
8.Ben McCalman
9.Byron Kelleher
10.Toby Flood
11.Vincent Clerc
12.Seilala Mapasua
13.David Marty
14.Leigh Halfpenny
15.Keith Earls

Where hook's best position is not a new debate and one that has been discussed on here. My opinion and I won't be offended if you disagree and im sure others will! Thats the risk with hook i guess, that was my point with the specialist comment before.

I see Hook as a great ten, got all the skills to play there and hopefully the time at perpignan will prove that. Ideally though, i think he could be a world class 12! Think about his skill set, he is such a good playmaker and in the 12 channel, he can kick, distrubute and has a touch more space then at 10, where he can use his pace, he is pretty quick!

Obviously up to you, but i would rate hook highest at 12,then 10, then 13, then 15 (emergency only)

Davies and Hook in the centres makes a lot of sense and means Donald doesn't have to play.........win win!!

Im assuming thats a good thing!

I'd consider Donald if you substituted him into my proposed deal. I want him as much as you'd want Rees!

I don't want Davies you're lessening the chance of getting Davies I'll consider my above deal with Donald or Davies. No less

So what are you proposing, fully?

Don't see any gain in that deal fella

Woodcock hasn't been that great for a few years now, prefer Beast.

hey globear - thanks for the inquiry.

Slade & Alberts & Strettle & Hartley/Hore
4
Donald/Lambie & Haskell & Evans & Mealamu
------------------------------------------------------------
its a good big offer but I think I am happy with my guys there. good one though

Nope.

I cant see anything less than the four player deal

Slade & Alberts & Strettle & Hartley/Hore
4
Donald/Lambie & Haskell & Evans & Mealamu

damn, I thought it was pretty good aswell, you will get an improvement in the backs, a better hooker plus Haskell is showing some good form for England.

Still no, really need a new fly-half.

not much between Mealamu and Hore mate - Haskell has form indeed but Alberts is an absolute beast. If I loose slade I loose my FH

sorry no bud

Dont mind a deal, but im trying to improve the forwards mate. wouldn't want to play butch at 12 and unfortunately manu is injured and not quite ready to start.

You have plenty of quality in the backs, steyn and hook included, so if they are involved ill be interested, otherwise not at all really mate

Slade & Alberts & Strettle & Hartley
4
Lambie & Haskell & Evans & Mealamu
-----------------
Don't think Lambies even been capped for SA has he? and like I said even though Haskell has got some good form I prefer Alberts. Slade is a current AB and I don't think Lambie is a good swap there. Mealamu v Hartley give you that max evans v strettle not much in it for me mate.

I don't mind doing a deal somehow but it's got to be something thats worth doing. I dont think either of us gain much out of this.

The four part deal is good and you know it is because you admitted it!! And even when I put it more in your in your favour you say no!!

Deacon + ????
4
AWJ/Thion + ????

ok will try one of my own back at you . . .

Mealamu + Haskell + Tuilagi
for
Hartley + Louw + Strettle

inquiry only . . .

also why do you want to get rid of Donald, he's a good player - or is it because youread that bad article on him?? ONE bad performance does not make aman mate - he's a good player

Deacon & Tuilagi
4
Thion & Kahui

Dont see Steyn as a FB mate, like him as a 12, played v well there for Racing. No chance of Lambie for Evans

I might be tempted with that deal, not convinced, what dyou reckon

ok you may be able to get Traille out of me but not sure for what as I will be loosing my best FB

ok what about

Mealamu + Haskell + Tuilagi + cash/player
for
Hartley + Louw + Strettle + Traille

MAYBE inquiry only

Mealamu + Haskell + Tuilagi + cash/player
for
Hartley + Louw + Strettle + Traille
Changed Louw to Alberts and I put Donald for Traille?
------------------------------------------------------------------

really won't change Louw - donald or cash ok

its still an inquiry though need to think on it

Tulagi/strettle are just different don't think either is better.
Louw/Haskell again same thing like you say.
------

if I am doing this deal thats what it would be:
Mealamu, Haskell, Tuilagi, Donald,
for
Hartley, Louw, Strettle, Traille

but still not sure about it , , ,

nah lets leave it - thanks though

Lambie + Hook + Steyn
=
Rougerie + Mermoz + Allen

Enq.

I personally prefer my midfield to yours - a midfield of Steyn and Hook might be considered lightweight. That's why the Lambie for Allen bit is in there. You've been after Rougerie for ages havent you?

Prefer:

10. Flood
11. Sivi
12. Mermoz
13. Rougerie
14. Roko
15. Dagg

Good balance, a mixture of form and experience and love the combinations! If I had Hook and Steyn I would want Lambie added on as I'd want to immediately replace one of them and Lambie would help me to do that.

If you can't do that, no worries

Yes that was it mate.

Hartley & Louw & Strettle & Traille
4
Mealamu & Haskell & Tuilagi & Donald
------------------------------------------------
Sure you don't fancy this one? am starting to come round to the idea of it . . . . ?

yeah I thought some peeps would be on by now? maybe they have lives . . .

right strettle - tuilagi don't think either is better than each other, they are two different beasts, direct with Tuilagi and pace and skill with strettle.

Hooker wise yeah Mealamu may be better but don't think anyone would argue that Hartley is going to be ranked up there with the best at the moment, plus he's young and only going to get better!

Traille would be my biggest loss as he is my outright full back and that would mean me bringing in Abendanon, whom like you say most people don't think is much cop as a starter, which is crazy, so theres my problem . . . hence I want to try and make the deal as good as possible. Hence Louw for Haskell, which lets face it isn't much of a difference there either, Louw being a bit of an animal like Haskell . . .

so I don't think its too bad mate . . . .

nah keeping Alberts - sorry bud.
well nearly a possible deal there then! lol

The big problem I have with Bekker for Jack is (even though I really like Jack) is the age - will Jack retire soon or do you think he will go another season? Bekker certainly has youth on his side . . . am tempted to do it for Jack 4 bekker . . . but not so sure . . .

mealamu is about 32 not 37 lol

right - Louw, being a current BOK and a good one is a good swap for Haskell I think.

am still open - it's just bekker/jack doesn't do it for me . . . . or smith/Louw

ah yeah Ledesma must be about that now, still a decent player though.
People seem to be offering players like Jack and Williams, and although good players there are now much better locks pushing them to the fringes . . . whereas Bekker is pushing for the first team.

still think Louw - Haskell is a good one for you . . .

argh I dont know . . .

that smy point, Bekker is not on the fronges he's actualy pushing for a starting place whereas players like Williams, Jack and even Eaton are out of contention due to the new breed coming through. Bekker is a new breed chomping at Matfield and Bothas heels.

Skrela for lambie? But I'd be okay with Evans for kirchener

So it'd be;
Skrela + Lobbe + Roberts + Jenkins
=
Lambie + McCalman + Steyn + Woodcock

Roberts would be better than JDV for you

So just swap kirchener for Evans then as you said. Dealio?

Hook & Steyn & Deacon & Evans
4
N.Evans & Toeava & Thion & Maitland/Halfpenny

---

Would only want hook as back up to evans
Wouldnt play Steyn at 15 and prefer Toeava there
Deacon is a gain on Thion, sure
Evans is a loss on either player

Only really one marginal gain on my back up player there, not great for me mate, sorry

Bathite wrote:
Would only want hook as back up to evans
Only really one marginal gain on my back up player there, not great for me mate, sorry

That was even worse!

nah - thanks though

Wakey wakey!

Thats the same deal again, only a marginal gain on steenkemp, big loss on evans, loss on the winger/centre (cant remember who you said)

Woodcock 2nd
Steenkemp 4th, 6th at worse

Thats a marginal gain, I like hook, but no way near evans class and as you said covers other positions, which is why i said (three times now) he would be good back up for evans.

Why do you think i would consider a bid with only one gain and two losses anyways? Not exactly even

sorry globear - think Traille is off to Bathite . . .

i'd do deals for bench players, but only good ones! havn't had one thats close from toulon yet, sorry mate!

Why did you buy Donald if your so keen to get rid? Surely you must have rated him to buy him?

Problem is i want to strengthen forwards, but woodcock is the only player that would significantly strengthen me and i would want to keep steenkemp as well! Want 4 good props like you have, you see.

Lambie is a possibility, but would never be a straight swap for Traille.

Traille 4 Woodcock

probably a step too far, but one i would deal at

Donald & Steyn
4
McAlister & Kearney

--

Your best offer yet, thanks. My too can leave, but if Hook replaces Donald, only the 4th time i have told you about donald!

I'd lose out on all of those deals and the only i'd sell is D'Arcy

Could possibly do:

Mermoz & Rougerie & Allen & Roko
4
Hook & Steyn & Lambie & Guildford

Still an enquiry though.. Let me know.

Can you not confirm it?

You should play Hook FH and have a Roberts Davies midfield sorted? Even Lambie and a Roberts Hook midfield would work

Kind of depending on you. Sorry to add te pressure!